KENT — The Kent State University football team began the 2025 season by snapping a 21-game losing streak, but a long drought in the Mid-American Conference still exists.
Kent State has not won a MAC game since it prevailed by three points on Nov. 26, 2022, at Buffalo.
With KSU falling 31-28 to Buffalo in a nail-biter on Sept. 13, the Golden Flashes had their skid in conference play extended to 17 games.
Here’s how Kent State (1-2, 0-1 in the MAC) versus Buffalo (2-1, 1-0) unfolded through our updates in the MAC opener for both teams at Dix Stadium:
Kent State loses 31-28 to Buffalo. Golden Flashes had turnover on downs in waning moments vs. Bulls
After Buffalo went ahead 31-28 with 1:03 left, Kent State started the ensuing drive at its 25-yard line. However, the Golden Flashes failed to produce a first down.
Kent State’s next-to-last possession ended with quarterback Dru DeShields scrambling on fourth-and-10 from the KSU 25 for a 7-yard gain. The play resulted in a turnover on downs with 41 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
The Golden Flashes got the ball back one last time with 18 seconds remaining after stopping the Bulls on fourth-and-1. However, KSU ran out of time without advancing into Buffalo territory.
After the game, Kent State interim coach Mark Carney named DeShields KSU’s starting quarterback moving forward and said he would no longer use a two-QB system.
Buffalo regains lead in dramatic fourth quarter, going ahead 31-28 vs. Kent Sate with 1:03 remaining
After Kent State went ahead by four points in crunch time, Buffalo fired back.
Buffalo started its go-ahead drive at its 24-yard line with 2:31 left in the fourth quarter. The Bulls marched, setting up third-and-10 at the Kent State 22. Quarterback Ta’Quan Roberson threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Victor Snow, who hit the front left pylon as Kent State safety Derrick Jackson III attempted to push him out of bounds.
Buffalo’s TD survived a replay review, and the Bulls went ahead 31-28 with an extra point and 1:03 left in the fourth quarter.
Kent State uses marathon drive to seize 28-24 lead late in the fourth quarter vs. Buffalo
On fourth-and-inches, Kent State quarterback Dru DeShields lined up in shotgun and rushed to his left for a 3-yard touchdown with 2:38 left in the fourth quarter. Kicker Will Hryszko made the extra point as KSU captured a 28-24 lead against Buffalo.
DeShields’ clutch rushing TD finished a 22-play, 93-yard drive, which lasted for nearly the entire fourth quarter.
Kent State started the drive at its 7-yard line with 14:53 left. The methodical march didn’t end until 2:38 remaining.
It should be noted Kent State could have settled for a 24-24 tie with a short field goal, yet Carney opted for an aggressive approach and went for it on fourth-and-inches. Then DeShields delivered.
Kent State trails Buffalo 24-21 at the end of the third quarter
End of third quarter: Buffalo 24, Kent State 21
Kent State counters and cuts Buffalo lead to 24-21 late in the third quarter
Give Kent State credit. Its offense couldn’t get anything going in the third quarter but showed life with a crucial play.
On first-and-10, quarterback Dru DeShields threw a pop pass to tight end Terik Mulder, who ran behind the defense and into the end zone for a 50-yard touchdown. The TD and the ensuing extra point sliced Buffalo’s lead to 24-21 with 2:58 remaining in the third quarter.
It also ended Buffalo’s streak of 24 consecutive points.
Buffalo takes complete control and captures 24-14 lead vs. Kent State with 5:15 left in the third quarter
Buffalo scored its second touchdown in as many possessions to seize complete control and a 24-14 lead against Kent State with 5:15 remaining in the third quarter.
Buffalo running back Al-Jay Henderson broke loose for a 38-yard rushing touchdown, and the Bulls made the extra-point kick to go ahead by 10 points at the end of a six-play, 85-yard drive.
Kent State falls behind Buffalo 17-14 with 9:28 left in the third quarter
In the third quarter, Buffalo took its first lead of the game when quarterback Ta’Quan Roberson connected with wide receiver Chance Morrow for a 21-yard touchdown. The successful extra-point kick moved Buffalo into a 17-14 lead against Kent State with 9:28 left in the third quarter.
Buffalo deployed a no-huddle, hurry-up offense, and Kent State had trouble adjusting on the fly. Morrow got behind Kent State cornerback Jaire Rawlison before catching his TD pass in the end zone.
Kent State led 14-0 before Buffalo scored 17 consecutive points.
Kent State has lost all momentum. The KSU offense began the second half with three consecutive three-and-outs.
Kent State leads Buffalo 14-10, but the Bulls rallied to score 10 points late in the first half against the Golden Flashes
After Kent State went three-and-out and punted, Buffalo took possession at its 40-yard line with 49 seconds left in the second quarter.
Buffalo drove and faced second-and-10 at the Kent State 25 with 12 seconds left. Quarterback Ta’Quan Roberson threw to the end zone, but before the ball arrived, Kent State cornerback A’tiq Muhammad tugged Buffalo wide receiver Victor Snow’s jersey. Muhammad was flagged for a 15-yard defensive pass interference penalty.
On first-and-goal at the 10, Roberson threw incomplete out the back of the end zone. Buffalo resorted to a field goal, and Jack Howes made the 28-yard attempt with time expired in the first half to slice Kent State’s lead to 14-10 at halftime.
In other words, Kent State had a 14-0 lead until Buffalo scored 10 points in the final 1:12 of the first half.
Buffalo cuts deficit vs. Kent State to 14-7 late in the second quarter
The Buffalo offense finally broke through with a play it desperately needed.
On first-and-10, quarterback Ta’Quan Roberson launched a deep pass wide receiver Nik McMillan caught for a 38-yard touchdown with 1:12 left in the second quarter. McMillan got past Kent State defensive back Joel Cordoba during the play and caught Roberson’s pass just before reaching the end zone.
With a good extra-point kick to cap a seven-play, 92-yard drive , Buffalo cut its deficit to 14-7.
Kent State seizes 14-0 lead against Buffalo with Cade Wolford catching a touchdown pass from Dru DeShields
Attention opposing defenses: Leave Kent State slot receiver Cade Wolford open at your own risk. Kent State has thrown four touchdown passes this season, and Wolford has caught every single one of them.
The fourth one came when Wolford found himself alone at the 20-yard line, caught a pass from quarterback Dru DeShields on first-and-10 and ran into the end zone untouched for a 41-yard TD. The ensuing extra point gave Kent State a 14-0 lead against Buffalo with 2:33 left in the second quarter.
The TD completed a four-play, 57-yard drive.
Kent State has punt blocked, but its defense immediately gets another takeaway vs. Buffalo
Buffalo safety Miles Greer blocked a Kent State punt, and the ball went out of bounds at the KSU 8-yard line with 12:27 left in the second quarter.
The play could have easily haunted Kent State, but the Golden Flashes immediately recorded another takeaway. KSU linebacker Mason Woods recovered Buffalo quarterback Ta’Quan Roberson’s fumble at the 5 with 12:22 left. Kent State defensive lineman Antoine Campbell Jr. was credited with a strip-sack during the play on first-and-goal at the 8.
The sequence allowed Kent State to maintain a 7-0 lead.
Kent State leads Buffalo 7-0 at the end of the first quarter
End of first quarter: Kent State 7, Buffalo 0.
Kent State outgained Buffalo 92-48 in the opening quarter.
Buffalo defense records turnover on downs vs. Kent State
In danger of falling behind by two scores, the Buffalo defense forced a turnover on downs with 1:35 left in the opening quarter.
Kent State went for it on fourth-and-4 at the Buffalo 34-yard line, but quarterback Dru DeShields’ short pass for a would-be first down intended for wide receiver Wayne Harris was broken up by Buffalo safety Solomon Brown.
The good news for Kent State is its defense immediately answered by registering a three-and-out.
Kent State defense forces a turnover to keep momentum vs. Buffalo
With Buffalo attempting to counter after falling behind 7-0, Kent State safety Derrick Jackson III intercepted Buffalo quarterback Ta’Quan Roberson’s deep pass over the middle on third-and-9 at the Bulls 38-yard line.
Jackson’s takeaway gave Kent State possession at its 34 with 6:59 remaining in the first quarter. The pass was tipped by another Kent State defender before Jackson picked it off.
Kent State strikes first and takes 7-0 lead vs. Buffalo in the first quarter
Three plays after the Kent State defense forced a turnover on downs, the KSU offense capitalized.
Following quarterback Dru DeShields’ 26-yard pass to wide receiver Wayne Harris, receiver Maurice Stephens rushed 31 yards off the left side for a touchdown. The Golden Flashes made the extra-point kick and captured a 7-0 edge with 8:54 remaining in the first quarter.
On its first possession of the game, Kent State produced a three-play, 61-yard TD drive.
Kent State defense gets stop vs. Buffalo on game’s first possession
Buffalo received the opening kickoff and advanced to the Kent State 39-yard line during its first series.
The Bulls went for it on fourth-and-5 and failed to convert, resulting in a turnover on downs with 10:23 left in the first quarter.
Buffalo quarterback Ta’Quan Roberson rushed to his right on fourth down. Kent State linebacker CJ Young forced Roberson to fumble out of bounds at the 39, where KSU began its first possession.
Here is some pregame information:
Who is Kent State football’s starting quarterback? Dru DeShields will make starting debut vs. Buffalo. CJ Montes is inactive
Kent State started redshirt senior CJ Montes at quarterback in each of its first two games. However, redshirt freshman Dru DeShields will make his first start against Buffalo as Montes sits out with an undisclosed injury (Carney said during his postgame news conference Montes is “a little banged up,” but doesn’t have a major injury).
In Kent State’s first two games, there should have been an asterisk attached to its quarterback situation because the Golden Flashes rotated Montes and DeShields at the game’s most important position.
Montes has gone 10-of-19 passing (52.6%) for 140 yards and one touchdown with one interception.
A West Branch High School graduate, DeShields has gone 13-of-25 passing (52%) for 234 yards and two TDs without an interception. He also has rushed for 24 yards and one TD.
Redshirt freshman slot receiver Cade Wolford has caught all three of KSU’s touchdown passes this season.
What is the series history between Kent State football and Buffalo?
Kent State’s all-time record vs. Buffalo: 14-16First meeting: 1937, Buffalo won 13-0Last meeting: 2024, Buffalo won 43-7Streak: Buffalo has won the last two games
Is Kent State favored to beat Buffalo football?
Buffalo is a 22½-point favorite to defeat Kent State, according to many online betting websites, including FanDuel Sportsbook.
Kent State football 2025 schedule and results
Note: Buffalo lost 23-10 at Minnesota on Aug. 28 and won 45-6 vs. St. Francis on Sept. 6.
How can I watch or listen to the Kent State football game today?
Kent State vs. Buffalo will be televised on CBS Sports Network with Jordan Kent serving as the play-by-play announcer and Randy Cross as the analyst. It can be heard locally on the radio via Fox Sports 1350-AM with Dane Richardson working as the play-by-play announcer, Rob Polinsky as the analyst and Andrea Filote as the sideline reporter.
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Kent State football score, recap vs. Buffalo | Golden Flashes fall to Bulls in nail-biter
Reporting by Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
